Our Little Haven Story -
Seeing the need for an early intervention, community-based model in response to the needs of the youngest victims of abuse, neglect, drug-exposure and HIV/AIDS in the St. Louis community, Our Little Haven began as a dream of Scott and Kathleen Hummel at the beginning of 1989.  After networking with hundreds of social service and medical providers, it was clear that the need was great and Our Little Haven began to take shape.  After turning to family and friends, a Board of Directors was formed using the extraordinary talents of close friends. Opening in 1993 with a capacity of 24 children, it quickly became clear that, unfortunately, the need was great and OLH soon expanded to 40 children.  As the organization grew in learning how best to serve the children, families, and community, proven community-based programs and facilities were added to increase impact and growth. This growth included:

◊  Innovative solutions and creative approaches using researched based and efficacious therapeutic models of child-focused treatment

◊  Models of measuring "success" were developed and proven solutions were offered.

◊  Accreditation was awarded by the Council on Accreditation

◊  Services grew to upwards of 600 children a year

◊  A partnership with three local providers was successfully formed to respond to the state-mandated foster care privatization process

◊  A Strategic Plan was designed and implemented

◊  A successful focus on "Caring for the Caregivers" was instituted (allowing for recruitment and retention of talented child-welfare professionals)

◊  A sizable gift from a generous St. Louis family established an Endowment while encouraging an expansion of OLH early-intervention programs.

In 2017, the 25th Anniversary Celebration preparation allowed OLH to measure the impact of her services over the years - OLH has been blessed to have been of service to 18,849 children and families thus far - with opportunities to serve the next 18,849 children that need OLH's special care.

Numerous studies clearly indicate that treating childhood mental and behavioral health issues, including abuse and neglect trauma, at the earliest age possible (during the formative years) allows for treatment that is life-long, better for the child, better for the family, better for the community and uses fewer resources.  Our Little Haven serves the youngest victims of abuse, neglect and those youngsters presenting mental or behavioral needs through a suite of programs all designed to offer and facilitate early intervention.  Over the years, OLH has evolved and now successfully offers professional and research-based treatment for the child (primarily ages birth through ten years old) coupled with treatment services for the entire child-client family.

Most recently, a study by CDC and Kaiser Permanente reaffirmed that child abuse and neglect affect children’s health and development, and the cost to our community is significant. Neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse lead to poor physical and mental health. The physical, psychological, behavioral, and economic consequences of child maltreatment are evident. Most astounding was the finding that the total lifetime economic burden resulting from new cases of fatal and nonfatal child abuse and neglect in the United States in 2015 is approximately $124 billion.  These are precious resources being used to "recover" from the plight of child abuse.  OLH and other early-intervention models can and do make a significant impact on the child regaining healthy lives for future success and on the community by "fixing" the problems early thus removing the financial burdens associated with the life-long results of "child maltreatment" left unabated.

Currently, Our Little Haven offers these key services:

Keystone Pediatric Mental Health Services is an outpatient mental health practice that provides mental and behavioral health care; assessments, treatment, and community consultation. Children are referred because of mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral concerns which are assessed & evaluated. Keystone professionals are active in community education for agencies and practitioners who need consultation from early-intervention professionals. Keystone typically serves upwards of 200 children annually. Keystone has accomplished numerous goals including COA accreditation and measuring an 85% success rate.

Our Little Academy Day-Treatment Pre-School is a full day program that provides therapeutic treatment in a preschool setting for children ages 3-5 who cannot participate in a traditional preschool/daycare due to behavioral or emotional problems. OLA is a full day, year-round program which combines traditional preschool activities with individual and group therapy, social skills development, speech and occupational therapy psychiatric care, art, music, playground activities and the pre-academics integrated with support for families as they heal from early traumatic experiences or family disruption. OLA typically serves 12 to 18 kids a year with a capacity of 6. Accomplishments include 95% success rate.

Taylor Family Care Center provides services for children and families involved in the foster care system due to abuse and/or neglect. assess the needs of children and families, arrange and provide appropriate services and move children into permanency within a specified period of time. Services include an innovative approach to service with a  Medical Care Case Management program and referrals/access to needed resources, assessment, and treatment. Moving children to permanency means placing children in a permanent home/family situation as soon as possible. TFCC provides for upwards of 300 children with a 40% success rate (as determined by "permanency."

1989 - 1993

After networking with hundreds of social service and medical providers, it was decided that the need was great and Our Little Haven began to take shape. After turning to family and friends, a Board of Directors was formed using the extraordinary talents of close friends. Bill Newbold took the helm as Chairman of the Board of Directors and efforts began to design and implement a nurturing and impactful organization.  The next step was locating a facility to welcome the process of After almost 5 years of planning, budgeting, and programming, Our Little Haven opened her doors for these very special kids in March 1993 with Mary Crook, who took advantage of Xerox's Social Service Leave Program, as the first volunteer.

1994

In June of 1994, the leadership of OLH began strategic analysis to respond to the growing need for OLH services. A five-year plan was adopted and set into action. In May of 1995, several opportunities arose to allow OLH to act towards expansion. A new building, next door to the original facility, was purchased and renovated to function as the Administration/Support Building. The third floor of the original building was renovated and put into the facility plans. Collaborations were formed with several groups and the Board of Regents, a non-voting arm of the Board of Directors who is called upon for direction, advice, and support, were elected.

Also in 1994, Our Little Haven entered into a relationship with the Junior Chamber of Commerce (The Jaycees) on a national level with the Jaycees using the program model of OLH to establish similar programs in other states. In consideration of this, the Jaycees provided OLH with an annual contribution collected and gifted by the individual Jaycee chapters across the country. While the formal relationship has expired, there are five programs established across the country based on the OLH model.